Sevan Rugs

Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of 1,900 m (6,234 ft.) above sea level. The town of Sevan is an urban municipal community, as well as one of the most popular resorts in Armenia, located on the northwestern shores of Lake Sevan.

The town was founded as Yelenovka in 1842 to become a Russian-populated village. It was named after Princess Yelena Pavlovna the daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia. The town was known as Yelenovka until 1935 when it was renamed Sevan after the Lake. Rug production of the region boomed under Tsarist rule. A popular type of antique Kazak designs attributed to the rural area around the Sevan Lake. These may be branded either ‘Sevan’ or ‘Sewan’.

Technical aspects and the structure of Sevan Rugs

Antique Sevan rugs have a knot density of about 58 knots per square inch. This may be considered a fine weave amongst Kazak pieces which are coarse by nature. Knots are symmetric (Turkish). Warps, wefts and piles are woolen in antique pieces. Rug sizes are common.

Dyeing and painting of Sevan rugs

Red, blue, green and ivory are dominant on Sevan palette. A Sevan medallion or “kazak shield” is tipycally colored with green, red and ivory. Fields are typically colored red while the borders are ivory. Golden camel is also possible on Sevan palette serving instead of ivory.

Designs and patterns of the Sevan rugs

The design attributed to the Lake Sevan made of a specific field medallion which may be called “Shield Kazak”. Total cruciform shapes of such medallions are made of three emerging shapes the middle one of which is normally rectangular while the other two may be either octagonal or rocket-shaped.

In some interpretations of the Sevan design, the medallion (or the shield) executed stylistically. Maybe the title ‘shield’ have been given firstly to these versions. There are also rural versions in which the medallion has a charming clumsiness. Area rugs with pointy versions of the Sevan medallion may be considered double-sided prayer rugs.

Sevan Rugs

Technical aspects and the structure of Sevan Rugs

Dyeing and painting of Sevan rugs

Designs and patterns of the Sevan rugs

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